SessionOne

06.01.23

In light of the growing struggle between The Lampblacks and The Red Sashes, Bazso Baz is calling on all his allies and contacts to see who is loyal to him and The Lampblacks. This included The Blue Salamanders, due to their links with Esme, the tavern owner whose rooms they doss in. Esme comes from a Lampblacks family, which has put The Blue Salamanders on good terms with them. Summoned to Bazso's headquarters overlooking a coal warehouse below, Roddy ? implies that Esme is family to them. Bazso latches onto this - 'your family is my family'. The obligation is clear. He has a job for them, a crate needs smuggling into The Red Sash Sword Academy ? in Crow’s Foot. Will they do it? They assent.

Rolls does some research, and through drinks with Red Sash novices discovers that they the Academy's annual graduation ceremony and feast is about to take place. The crew decide to disguise themselves as merchants, delivering wine for the occasion, Bazso's crate hidden amongst them. All was not plain sailing, however. Arriving at the Academy, it was immediately obvious that their boat sticks out amongst those of other deliveries. Suspicion was raised, fingers pointed. Would they be turned away, or worse? Thinking quickly, Diva ? cut through the noise by force of personality, commanding that they be allowed to moor their vessel. Porters arrived, ready to relieve them of their wares. This created a new source of tension. Not only would this prevent them hiding their crate, but it risked its true nature being discovered. As to this, Crash was growing suspicious; when in its vicinity his head throbbed, and he had noticed the strange arcane etching on its sides. Inspired perhaps by Diva's example, Crash and Roddy responded by starting an argument with each other and the porters, highlighting the dangerous nature of the 'Spirit' wine and the need to deliver it directly into the hands of Aldo Dalmore, the Academy's bursar. Was it a line of argument, or simply the desire to be rid of them that led to the porters giving up and waving them through.

Following the flow of merchants and porters, they had a choice. Did they head to the kitchen with the food, follow others bringing wine, or go their own way? Fortunately 'Diva' had previously obtained by nefarious means, a map of the Academy, on which were details of a now plastered over and presumably forgotten dummy waiter. If they could deposit the crate in there and lower it into the depths of the building, sealing it up again, their mission would be a success. A diversion was needed. Crash took the initiative, seizing a crate of cheap wine from their load, he strided over to Dalmore, who was testing the wine, seeking to occupy him and those around him, whilst the rest could divert without being noticed. Stepping away from Bazso's crate, however, he found himself subject to some form of psychic attack, as if the chest was seeking to possess him. Fortunately, he came prepared, having fashioned before they embarked a 'ward' to help him resist its influence. The possession wasn't successful, however, it left him collapsed and unconscious, murmuring and prone. Distraction created, however, allowing the rest of The Blue Salamanders to slip out of sight to locate the dummy waiter...

The map was accurate, and the crew quickly located the correct wall. Rin ? stepped forward, and with precision, assisted by Roddy, removed the plaster with care so it could be returned afterwards. Behind it sat the waiter, just as hoped. Carefully installing the crate, the began to lower it, until it reached the floor below them, the sound quieted by Diva's silence potion. At just this point a Red Sash disciple ran into them, come from the hall to fetch medical supplies to treat Crash. Instinctively, Rin threw out an arm, felling him before he could raise the alarm. Quickly, they returned the plaster, concealing the waiter once more, running out to retrieve the awakening Crash before his true identity could be discovered...

Downtime:

Payoff - 4 Coin rewarded for the score.
1 Coin tithe given to The Wraiths
Heat - Reached 3 (Don't remember how! Therefore added nothing)
Entanglements - Usual suspects (p152). Yet to be played out.
Crew:
- +1 Status with The Lampblacks for assisting them
- -1 Status with The Red Sashes for harming them

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